The Georgia General Assembly began its 2026 Legislative Session last week, completing five days of legislative work. Senator Carden Summers, who represents the 13th Senate District covering parts of South Georgia, reflected on the session’s start and outlined key priorities for the coming months.
Governor Brian Kemp delivered his final State of the State Address to both legislative chambers. In his speech, he proposed continued tax reductions, pay increases for state employees and retirees, as well as investments in education and workforce development.
Senator Summers stated: “Many families, farmers and small businesses across Georgia are still struggling to make ends meet, thanks to the previous White House administration’s reckless financial policies. Thankfully, Senate Republicans have stepped up and already outlined a comprehensive plan, in line with the Governor, to fully reignite our economy. Our plan ensures that all Georgians who are willing to work will keep more of what they earn.”
Summers described details of this plan: individual filers would not be taxed on their first $50,000 of earnings while joint filers would see no taxes on their first $100,000. Additionally, state employees—including teachers—are set to receive a one-time $2,000 supplement.
He added: “This is another tangible investment in the long-term health of our state. Democrats can continue to throw short-sighted pipe dreams at the wall, knowing they will never stick, but we’ll be making changes that move South Georgia families from scarcity to security.”
The Senate majority also introduced Senate Resolution 563 during the week. This resolution urges Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to comply with federal requests from the Department of Justice regarding Georgia’s voter registration list. Summers said: “It’s a simple ask, but our Secretary of State refuses to cooperate and do the right thing. Nobody is above the law, and it is important to uphold integrity at all levels of government. I’ll always make sure that South Georgians have the full truth and all the facts, especially when it comes to our elections.”
On public safety matters, action was taken on Senate Bill 204 concerning firearm storage regulations and gun laws. According to Summers: “When the Second Amendment needs to be protected, you can rest assured that I will step up to protect your right to bear arms.”
Summers also invited students aged 12-18 from his district to participate in the Senate Page program during this year’s session.
Senator Carden Summers serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking and Financial Institutions. He represents Ben Hill, Berrien, Crisp, Irwin, Lee, Tift, Turner and Worth counties along with part of Coffee County.
